The Hows and Whys of Charting Your Period

Charting your period is something that can be helpful whether you are trying to conceive or even just planning your social calendar. It’s nice to know when to expect your period so that you can plan around it when possible for things like vacations and romantic weekends away. Knowing when you will be on your period is also handy when planning your yearly pap smear since it’s recommended that you schedule your pap for approximately ten days after your last period. And charting your period also allows you to know when you’ll be ovulating, which is helpful when trying to conceive or helpful for planning other activities as well. This is especially true for women who deal with pain or spotting during ovulation do to things like ovarian cysts, endometriosis or fibroids.

How to Do It

Charting your period isn’t difficult at all. The first thing you need is a calendar or day planner to keep track. Then, start by marking the first day of your period. If you want to be discreet then simply use a red dot or a red sticker as opposed to writing it out and announcing it to anyone who has access to that calendar! Do the same again the following month and then count the days between the start of that first period up to the start of the next to end up with the length of your period. This time can vary so don’t be surprised if you notice a difference over the course of a few months.

What Else You Should Note

Charting your period isn’t only a matter of keeping track of the day to expect your monthly visitor but it can also be a great way to track other symptoms associated with your period like PMS, libido or anything else you might be concerned about. Make sure to note on your calendar the days that you feel especially crampy or moody. Again, instead of writing it down you could always come up with a color-coded method using different ink colors or stickers…or simply draw an angry face on that day! Seriously though, keeping track of what you’re feeling on what days can alert you to potential problems and the more information you can provide a doctor with when needed, the better.